Two years later, Bly moved to New York City and began working for the New York World. Following her marriage, she retired from journalism and became the president of her husbands Iron Clad Manufacturing Company. Life Story: Elizabeth Cochrane, aka Nellie Bly (1864-1922) World-Traveling Journalist and Muckraker The story of an investigative journalist who used her career to shed light on the horrors of urban life and break gender stereotypes. Bly crafted a fiery rebuttal that grabbed the attention of the paper's managing editor, George Madden, who, in turn, offered her a position. This article was most recently revised and updated by, 8 of Nellie Bly's Most Sensational Stories. Blys literary success proliferated when she turned the fictional tale of Jules Vernes 1873 novel Around the World in Eighty Days, into reality. "Bly, Nellie (1864-1922), reporter and manufacturer. How many children did Abigail Adams have? Nellie Bly, pseudonym of Elizabeth Cochrane, also spelled Cochran, (born May 5, 1864, Cochran's Mills, Pennsylvania, U.S.died January 27, 1922, New York, New York), American journalist whose around-the-world race against a fictional record brought her world renown. For ten days Elizabeth experienced the physical and mental abuses suffered by patients. In it, she argued for reform of divorce laws. How many siblings did Deborah Sampson have? Just over seventy-two days after her departure from Hoboken, Bly was back in New York. In 1887, Bly stormed into the office of the New York World, one of the leading newspapers in the country. After ten days, the asylum released Bly at The World's behest. During her early journalism career, Bly wrote Six Months in Mexico (1888), which describes her time as a foreign correspondent in Mexico in 1885. National Women's History Museum. 1750. In it, she explores the country's people and customs, and even stumbles upon marijuana. How many siblings did Nellie Bly have? | Homework.Study.com Ten Days in the Madhouse. A Celebration of Women Writers. How many siblings did Queen Victoria have? (Bly's record was beaten in 1890 by George Francis Train, who finished the trip in 67 days.). She moved to New York City in 1886, but found it extremely difficult to find work as a female reporter in the male-dominated field. [11], As a writer, Nellie Bly focused her early work for the Pittsburgh Dispatch on the lives of working women, writing a series of investigative articles on women factory workers. Blys husband died in 1903, leaving her in control of the massive Iron Clad Manufacturing Company and American Steel Barrel Company. University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center. [68], Bly is one of 100 women featured in the first version of the book Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls written by Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo. In business, her curiosity and independent spirit flourished. She also interviewed and wrote pieces on several prominent figures of the time, including Emma Goldman and Susan B. Anthony. copyright 2003-2023 Homework.Study.com. In 188687 she traveled for several months through Mexico, sending back reports on official corruption and the condition of the poor. How many siblings did Dorothy Vaughan have? Michael married twice. The piece shed light on a number of disturbing conditions at the facility, including neglect and physical abuse, and, along with spawning her book on the subject, ultimately spurred a large-scale investigation of the institution. To what extent did Elizabeths trip around the world redefine ideas of what it meant to be a woman? How many children did Catherine of Aragon have? Nellie Bly gained international stardom for her world tour stunt that multiplied her fame. Elizabeths writing career started abruptly and unintentionally. And much of this has to do with her firsthand account of life in an insane asylum. Her New York debut, at age 23, was a harrowing two-part expos of the Woman's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's (now Roosevelt) Island for which she had feigned insanity and fooled a battalion of Bellevue doctors and curious reporters from competing papers to get inside. She recounted her adventures in her final book, Around the World in 72 Days. Nellie lived on a big farm with her parents Michael Cochran and Mary Kane and her siblings. How many brothers and sisters did Theodore Roosevelt have? One can only speculate what further triumphs and good deeds this remarkable woman might have achieved if only she lived a few years longer. How many sisters did Charles Dickens have? [33] Bly was 31 and Seaman was 73 when they married. Ten Little-Known Facts about Nellie Bly - Tonya Mitchell For the same, she feigned insanity to get into the asylum and have a first-hand experience of the treatment meted out to patients. 1890. In 1887, Bly relocated to New York City and began working for the New York World, the publication that later became famously known for spearheading "yellow journalism." Died: January 27, 1922, New York City, NY. Cochran's Mills, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Burrell Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story, An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster, "She went undercover to expose an insane asylum's horrors. [60], Bly has been featured as the protagonist of novels by David Blixt,[61] Marshall Goldberg,[62] Dan Jorgensen,[63] Carol McCleary,[64] Pearry Reginald Teo, Maya Rodale,[65] and Christine Converse. Her first articles, on conditions among working girls in Pittsburgh, slum life, and other similar topics, marked her as a reporter of ingenuity and concern. Nellie Bly: Around the World in 72 Days. Senator John Heinz History Center. In business, her curiosity and independent spirit flourished. In 1895, Bly married millionaire manufacturer Robert Seaman. Ten Days in a Mad-House is a book by American journalist Nellie Bly. Although several newspapers turned down her application because she was a woman, she was eventually given the opportunity to write for Joseph Pulitzers New York World. Just two years after reviving her writing career, on January 27, 1922, Bly died from pneumonia in New York City. In 1887 Cochrane left Pittsburgh for New York City and went to work for Joseph Pulitzers New York World. Seaman died in 1904, and Bly took over his firm, the Iron Clad Manufacturing Company. She wasn't the first woman of her time to join a newsroom, but she was certainly the most. Nellie Bly became a star journalist by going undercover as a patient at a New York City mental health asylum in 1887 and exposing its terrible conditions in the New York World. How many siblings did Rosalind Franklin have? A fireboat named Nellie Bly operated in Toronto, Canada, in the first decade of the 20th century. She used the pen name Nellie Bly, which she took from a well-known song at the time, Nelly Bly. Bly was a popular columnist, but she was limited to writing pieces that only addressed women and soon quit in dissatisfaction. She was satisfied to know that her work led to change. [57], Bly has been the subject of two episodes of the Comedy Central series Drunk History. Bly, Nellie. How many siblings did Benazir Bhutto have? How many siblings did Marie Antoinette have? Elizabeths mother soon remarried, but quickly divorced her second husband because of abuse, and relocated the family to Pittsburgh. While in charge of the company, Bly put her social reforms into action and Iron Clad employees enjoyed several perks unheard of at the time, including fitness gyms, libraries and healthcare. Her trip only took 72 days, which set a world record. [9] In 1879, she enrolled at Indiana Normal School (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) for one term but was forced to drop out due to lack of funds. [citation needed] The character of Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson) in American Horror Story: Asylum is inspired by Bly's experience in the asylum. [74], Cover of the 1890 board game Round the World with Nellie Bly. Quick Quiz: Around The World With Nellie Bly. [40], On January 27, 1922, Bly died of pneumonia at St. Mark's Hospital, New York City, aged 57. She faced rejection after rejection as news editors would not consider hiring a woman. How many siblings did Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton have? Fashion Philosophy Special: Nellie Bly - College Fashion Michael had 10 children with his first wife, and he had 5 children with his second wife. Unfortunately, Bly did not manage the finances well and fell victim to fraud by employees that led the firm to declare bankruptcy. The New York World completely supported her ambitious feat. New-York Historical Society Library. In 1904, when her husband died, Bly took over the reign of the company. world attention to journalist Nellie Bly with his At the . Goodman, Matthew. Portrait of Nellie Bly. Bly died of pneumonia at the age of 57 in 1922. How many siblings did Mary Todd Lincoln have? Elizabeth Cochran (she later added a final e to Cochran) received scant formal schooling. How many siblings did Victoria Woodhull have? Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women's rights. [49], During the 1990s, playwright Lynn Schrichte wrote and toured Did You Lie, Nellie Bly?, a one-woman show about Bly. Those words, describing New York City's most notorious mental institution, were written by journalist Nellie Bly in 1887. June 7, 1999. Promenading with Lunatics: Nellie Bly's Brave Undercover - Medium [12][11][13] The editor, George Madden, was impressed with her passion and ran an advertisement asking the author to identify herself. ", Lutes, Jean Marie. Nellie Bly: The Journalist Who Pretended To Be Insane To Get Into A Chapultepec Castle, Mexico City. Before becoming an investigative journalist and travelling around the world in 72 days,. "Pink," as she was known in childhood, was the youngest of 13 (or 15, according . [20], In 1893, Bly used the celebrity status she had gained from her asylum reporting skills to schedule an exclusive interview with the allegedly insane serial killer Lizzie Halliday.[25]. Bly told the assistant matron: "There are so many crazy people about, and one can never tell what they will do. Her report, published 9 October 1887[23] and later in book form as Ten Days in a Mad-House, caused a sensation, prompted the asylum to implement reforms, and brought her lasting fame. episode "Jack's Back". [56], Bly was also a subject of Season 2 Episode 5 of The West Wing in which First Lady Abbey Bartlet dedicates a memorial in Pennsylvania in honor of Nellie Bly and convinces the president to mention her and other female historic figures during his weekly radio address. Elizabeth positioned herself as an investigative reporter. She moved to New York City in 1886, but found it extremely difficult to find work as a female reporter in the male-dominated field. National Women's History Museum, 2022. New-York Historical Society. Her honest reporting about the horrors of workers lives attracted negative attention from local factory owners. How many children did Anne Hutchinson have? Her article's headline was "Suffragists Are Men's Superiors" and in its text she accurately predicted that it would be 1920 before women in the United States would be given the right to vote. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, mission specialist, carries her son Wilson Miles-Ochoa following the STS-96 crew return at Ellington Field. In 1885, Bly began working as a reporter for the Pittsburgh Dispatch at a rate of $5 per week. Answer and Explanation: Nellie Bly had 14 siblings (10 half-siblings; 4 full blooded siblings). How many siblings did Louisa May Alcott have? Nellie Bly tied the nuptial knot in 1895 with the millionaire manufacturer Robert Seaman. She stayed up all night to give herself the wide-eyed look of a disturbed woman and began making accusations that the other boarders were insane. Death date: January 27, 1922. She only attended one year of boarding school, because the financial burden placed on the family following her father's death forced her to quit school. In 1889, the paper sent her on a trip around the world in a record-setting 72 days. [24] She had a significant impact on American culture and shed light on the experiences of marginalized women beyond the bounds of the asylum as she ushered in the era of stunt girl journalism. How many brothers and sisters did George Washington Carver have? [32] In 1893, though still writing novels, she returned to reporting for the World. Remembering Nellie Bly, Rabblerouser and Pioneer of Investigative How has Title IX impacted women in education and sports over the last 5 decades? How many siblings did Lucretia Garfield have? Nellie Bly had 14 siblings (10 half-siblings; 4 full blooded siblings). How many siblings did Angelina Grimke have? In 1911, she returned to journalism as a reporter for the New York Evening Journal. MLA Norwood, Arlisha and Mariana Brandman. Jarena Lee, 1849. With her courageous and bold act, she cemented her legacy as one of the most notable journalists in history. 10 Days in a Madhouse (2015) - IMDb Nellie Bly managed to circumnavigate the world in just 72 days, eight less than Jules Verne's fictitious hero, Phileas Fogg, who inspired the feat. A misogynistic column in the daily, The Pittsburgh Dispatch, prompted her to pen a fiery rebuttal to the editor under the pseudonym Lonely Orphan Girl. Such was the impression of her writing that it won her a full-time employment with the newspaper. [41], In 1998, Bly was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. In a tribute after her death, the acclaimed newspaper editor Arthur Brisbane remembered Bly as the best reporter in America., Kroeger, Brooke. Furthermore, her hands-on approach to reporting developed into a practice now called investigative journalism. [67], A fictionalized account of Bly's around-the-world trip was used in the 2010 comic book Julie Walker Is The Phantom published by Moonstone Books (Story: Elizabeth Massie, art: Paul Daly, colors: Stephen Downer). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Blys successful career reached new heights in 1889 when she decided to travel around the world after reading the popular book by Jules Verne, At the age of 30, Bly married millionaire Robert Seamen and retired from journalism. Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World. [1] [2] American investigative journalist (18641922), Elizabeth Cochran, "Nellie Bly," aged about 26. With an attempt to break the faux record of the character of Phileas Fogg, Bly began her 24, 899 mile journey on November 14, 1889, boarding the Augusta Victoria. [43][44], In 2019, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation put out an open call for artists to create a Nellie Bly Memorial art installation on Roosevelt Island. Nellie Bly died of pneumonia when she was 57. The first chapters of Eva The Adventuress, based on the real-life trial of Eva Hamilton, appeared in print before Bly returned to New York. Following her marriage, she retired from journalism and became the president of her husband's Iron Clad Manufacturing Company. On January 25, 1890, the world waited for a young reporter named Nellie Bly to arrive back home. Elizabeth Cochran Seaman (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran; May 5, 1864 January 27, 1922), better known by her pen name Nellie Bly, was an American journalist, who was widely known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, in emulation of Jules Verne's fictional character Phileas Fogg, and an expos in which she worked undercover to report on a mental institution from within. Nellie Bly was ousted from Mexico after she ran a series of articles criticizing the Mexican dictator and ruler, Porfirio Diaz. How many siblings did Mother Teresa have? The reporter known as Nellie Bly was born Elizabeth Jane Cochran in Cochran's Mills, Pennsylvania, where her father was a mill owner and county judge. "On the species of Pamphobeteus Pocock, 1901 deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, with redescriptions of type material, the first record of P. grandis Bertani, Fukushima & Silva, 2008 from Peru, and the description of four new species". Unable to maintain the land or their house, Blys family left Cochran's Mill. Still only 21, she was determined "to do something no girl has done before. Elizabeth traveled light, taking only the dress she wore, a cape, and a small travelers bag. She was arrested when she was mistaken for a British spy. How many children did Coretta Scott King have? Elizabeth is often described as a muckraker. Male 4 November 1848-29 June 1903 LHVT-N79. Safely home, she accused Daz of being a tyrannical czar suppressing the Mexican people and controlling the press. Nellie Bly | National Women's History Museum How many brothers and sisters did Harriet Tubman have? Young Elizabeth attended boarding school but just for a term before dropping out due to insufficient funds. (June 2002) 217-253. Covering Mental Health - Journalism in Action Life Story: Elizabeth Cochrane, aka Nellie Bly (1864-1922), Women & The American Story, New-York Historical Society Library and Museum. From France she went to Italy and Egypt, through South Asia to Singapore and Japan, then to San Francisco and back to New York. In 1880, the family moved to Pittsburgh where Elizabeth supported her single mother by running a boarding house. How Nellie Bly went undercover to expose abuse of the mentally ill Nellie Blys Book: Around the World in Seventy-two Days (1890) was a great popular success, and the name Nellie Bly became a synonym for a female star reporter. She was far and away the best-known woman journalist of her day. [13] Her first article for the Dispatch, titled "The Girl Puzzle", argued that not all women would marry and that what was needed were better jobs for women. Nellie Bly - Story, Timeline & Facts - Biography Nellie Bly was born as Elizabeth Jane Cochran on May 5, 1864 in Cochrans Mills, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, to a mill worker Michael Cochran and his wife Mary Jane. Bly followed her Blackwell's expos with similar investigative work, including editorials detailing the improper treatment of individuals in New York jails and factories, corruption in the state legislature and other first-hand accounts of malfeasance. [14] It was customary for women who were newspaper writers at that time to use pen names. Baker's career as an actress took place from 1921-1934 and she performed in 13 films. Her report was compiled into a book, Ten Days in a Mad-House (1887), and led to lasting institutional reforms. In 1895, Elizabeth retired from writing and married Robert Livingston Seaman. Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story (TV Movie 2019) - IMDb She is often confused with the journalist Nellie Bly (1864-1922). Nellie Bly, pseudonym of Elizabeth Cochrane, also spelled Cochran, (born May 5, 1864, Cochrans Mills, Pennsylvania, U.S.died January 27, 1922, New York, New York), American journalist whose around-the-world race against a fictional record brought her world renown. [47], The New York Press Club confers an annual Nellie Bly Cub Reporter journalism award to acknowledge the best journalistic effort by an individual with three years or fewer of professional experience. Elizabeth Cochran was born on May 5, 1864 in Cochrans Mills, Pennsylvania. Nellie Bly was never one to sit idle while the world rushed by. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. . [36], Bly was, however, an inventor in her own right, receiving U.S. Patent 697,553 for a novel milk can and U.S. Patent 703,711 for a stacking garbage can, both under her married name of Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman. In 1887, 23-year-old reporter Nellie Bly had herself committed to a New York City asylum to expose the horrific conditions for 19th-century mental patients. [19] When Mexican authorities learned of Bly's report, they threatened her with arrest, prompting her to flee the country. Bly went on to patent several inventions related to oil manufacturing, many of which are still used today. At 15, Bly enrolled at the State Normal School in Indiana, Pennsylvania. How many sisters did Susan B. Anthony have? Elizabeth Jane Cochran, a.k.a. What are nellie blys siblings names? - Answers As few copies of the paper survived, these novels were thought lost until 2021, when author David Blixt announced their discovery, found in Munro's British weekly The London Story Paper. NASA on The Commons, via flickr, Home / Modernizing America, 1889-1920 / Modern Womanhood / Life Story: Nellie Bly. National Women's History Museum. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Who Was Nellie Bly and What Was She Famous For? - WorldAtlas Kroeger, Brooke. The show ran for 16 performances. Her father, Michael Cochran, owned a lucrative mill and served as associate justice of Armstrong County. Her mother remarried but divorced in 1878 due to abuse. When Robert died in 1904, Elizabeth briefly took over as president of his companies. How many siblings did Amy Carmichael have? Nellie Bly Lesson for Kids: Biography & Facts. America's first investigative journalist got her start in an asylum Bly continued to publish influential pieces of journalism, including interviews with prominent individuals like anarchist activist and writer Emma Goldman and socialist politician and labor organizer Eugene V. Debs. Christina Ricci starred as Bly and Transparent's Judith Light played the role of the head nurse. One of the protagonist's adventures in the 2003 film "The Adventures of Ociee Nash" is meeting Nellie Bly (Donna Wright) on a train.